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Wit-NESS January

"Improbable Research" and "Ig" and the tumbled thinker logo are trademarks of Improbable Research, Inc. All are reg. U.S. Pat. & Tm. Off.

Beetles Boink Bottles?

As engineers and scientists, most of us are familiar with research in one way or another. Some of us conduct research for a living, while most of us have had to at least read and digest the work of others. Often, scientific reports are dry and boring… filled with big words, mathematical expressions, tables of data and mind-numbing detail.

That’s why it’s so refreshing to drop in on the folks at Improbable Research. This website/organization is home to some of the smartest folks on the planet… The editorial staff listing includes at least seven Nobel Laureates (I lost count among the various other asterisk designations).

I first learned of them in the mid-nineties, but they can trace their roots back as far as 1955. Rather than trying to explain to you what they do, I’ll give you what they say about themselves:

Improbable research is research that makes people laugh and then think.

…We also hope to spur people’s curiosity, and to raise the question: How do you decide what’s important and what’s not, and what’s real and what’s not — in science and everywhere else?

Like SWE, they want to reach out to people, especially teachers, and help us discover that science can be fun. Since this is the “Wit-NESS” article, I’ll assume you came here with your sense of humor engaged, so I’m certain you will find something you’ll enjoy at Improbable Research. I like them so much, I pay money to recieve their “beautiful high-res PDF of this issue” rather than the “free, cheesy low-res PDF of this issue.” Maybe you will, too! Seriously, who can resist a group that includes hair clubs?

Luxuriant Flowing Hair Club for Scientists™
Luxuriant Former Hair Club for Scientists™
Luxuriant Facial Hair Club for Scientists™

The Luxuriant Flowing Hair Club for Scientists (LFHCfS) is a club for scientists who have, or believe they have, luxuriant flowing hair.The Luxuriant Former Hair Club for
Scientists (LFHCfS) is a club for scientists who have a luxuriant head of former hair.The Luxuriant Facial Hair Club for Scientists is a club for scientists who have luxuriant flowing facial hair.